Take it back, take it all back, honey, before it starts to hurt. Let's not ruin this with words.

Regret is a flame that burns brighter than any other.

Goodbye to sleep

The flames licked its fuel. Soft tongues wrapping around the very thing it was destroying. Their soft wavering fingers wrapping around the door, digging in and then smoothing over its marks. The bright oranges, muted reds, and soft yellows curling around the frame holding it up. Sizzling, cackling, the pops of warm dampened wood released gasps of air into the kiss of fire.

The flames intertwined itself around the body, curling around the details of the house, devouring everything in sight. It worked its way slowly through the rooms, caressing the walls, kissing the contents of each room softly. It was a deep seduction, the flames slowly overtaking the structure, leaving its mark forever on the skeleton. The building sighed, welcoming the touch of fire. The burnt end of a match curled up onto itself erasing all evidence of a start.

Somewhere outside, she sighed. A slim matchbox twirled through her fingers. She watched the path of the fire as it danced before her eyes. The wind twirled the flames around and whipped her hair behind her head. She welcomed the sensations and reveled in the sounds of the crackling fire. The burned, blackened remains slowly revealing themselves before her.

As the fire died down she pivoted slowly on her heel and took a step forward, leaving the destruction at her back. She fisted her hand around the matchbox and then pocketed it with a small sigh. She closed her eyes and breathed in the smell of release. A fire danced in her eyes as she slowly reopened them. She was free.